July 15 -- Elfreth's Alley

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Another mural.

Love the 3d sign for Elfreth's Alley.  Elfreth's Alley is one of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the USA, dating to 1702.

Looking east.  Lots of different surfaces.  I'll walk on the cobblestones.

Remember the walls we've seen with some unglazed brick and some glazed brick?  I hadn't thought about how light would be caught differently by the shiny/matte surfaces.

I didn't notice when I took this pic how visible the shiny glazed bits are, when the wall is in shadow.  See, one house beyond the end one with the red shutters?  All those lighter dots are the glazed bricks.

Cool.  Love the effect.

Functional shutters, with fire-insurance plaque.

Here's the house with the shiny bricks alternating with duller ones.

Love this.  Love the planters, love the variety of plants, love the way the colors converse with the house....

Several houses in here are for sale.  I can imagine the upkeep is awful.  Wouldn't you love to see the insides?

People live here.

Lovely cobblestones.

Speaking of maintenance.....

Peeping through a gate -- look, it's open back in there.

Someone has shared part of the history of their home with us.

This house is all spiffed up.

Twisted vines.

An even smaller alley, off Elfreth's Alley (looking back at Elfreth's Alley).

House bricks, paving bricks, lace, painted wood, ferns.......

(as always click on any image to embiggen)

Looking west.  These houses are cute, and something about the coziness is very appealing.  Living in the middle of a tourist hot-spot, though.....  Not my cup of tea.  Signs in windows stating "Private residence.  Please respect our home." -- I don't want to live where it's necessary to say that.

At the east end of the alley.

Walking on.  I think this store was selling various things intended to help people restore old houses.

Love these bulbs.  I think one would be an interesting sculpture, sitting on a shelf (lit up, of course!).

Another mural (or does this count as several murals?).  Not sure what's up with this drippy aesthetic.  It's popular now, but I've never quite been able to see it.

Love the bird, against the stripes and the "wood".........

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